MARCH 18, 2003 - 'Muslims - Dialogues - Beliefs'
"Basic Beliefs of Islam"
On Tuesday, 18 March, was the opening session of Muslims-Dialogues-Beliefs.
The topic was Basic Beliefs of Islam. The main presenter was a St. Cloud
State University (SCSU) graduate student from Bangla Desh, Mr. Ahmad Ramadani.
The respondent/discussant was Dr. Noreen Herzfeld, faculty of St. Johns
University, and a member of University Lutheran Church of the Epiphany (ULCE)
which is located at 390-4th Ave.South. The host was Pastor Darius Larsen
of ULCE which ministers to the SCSU community, and member of FCBRH (Faith
Communities: Building Racial Harmony).
The sponsors of this series are CIE/UNIITE (Center for Interfaith
Encounter/Understanding the Need for Interfaith/Intercultural
Togetherness and Education), FCBRH, and Brothers United. Funding was/will
be provided by Racial Harmony Initiative, First Presbyterian Church, St. Johns
Episcopal Church, Office of Multicultural Ministry: Diocese of St. Cloud, Pax
Christi, and Jordan Institute.
As preparations were being made by Ms. Melissa MacDonnell (Muslim artifacts
table); Co-Founder of CIE, Ms. Mariani Nazareth (Guest Log Book), and Ms. April
Lange (hospitality), Dr. Malcolm Nazareth of CIE/UNIITE, and member of FCBRH,
screened a 25-minute video Abraham and His Children: An Interfaith Dialogue,
New York: Jewish Chautauqua Society, 1992. This video recording of an
interfaith seminar makes a point which undergirds the entire series
Muslims-Dialogues-Beliefs. It indicates that, despite the striking historic
differences between the three major Abrahamic religions, at root there is
common ground. Such ground is shared theologically, geographically, and
historically by Islam with its older siblings Judaism and Christianity,
and is most striking, even if not generally recognized.
After Pastor Larsen warmly welcomed the audience to the dialogue, he named
the various symbols which he had placed on a credence table. The table was
right in front of the podium from which he was speaking in the comfortable
basement of ULCE. The presenting panel and audience were seated in chairs
in a rectangular arrangement around the podium. There were symbols of world
religions set on the table including, of course, the Sacred Quran, which was
appropriately placed right in the center.
The Islamic scripture, prime focus of attention in the current dialogue-series,
was surrounded by a Zen Buddhist garden, an orange Hindu statue of Lord
Ganesha, a Jewish wrought-iron statue of Job, and a number of bird feathers
representing the diversity of Native American religions. The credence table was
draped with multi-colored strips of cloth used by Christian communities in
Guatemala. Of striking interest was a peace flame. It danced in blue
majestically over all the religious symbols, reminding us that our nation was
about to engage in a much dreaded war with Iraq, and, that though peace among
the conflicting parties might seem to be temporarily elusive, it would
eventually prevail.
Dr. Dan McKanan of the School of Thelogy, St. Johns University, and board
member of sponsoring non-profit UNIITE, introduced the dialogue. He reminded
all who had come to participate in the 90-minute session about the goal,
procedure, and etiquette of an interfaith encounter. He requested all present
to write their names in the Guest Log Book in order to facilitate planning for
a halal meal on the closing night. He also announced that those who would
attend the five St. Cloud dialogues without a break would be eligible to have
their names placed in a drawing for peace awards.
Dr. McKanan then invited Dr. Nancy Harles, Director of the St. Cloud Area
American Indian Center, and board member of UNIITE, to inaugurate the St. Cloud
series with a Smudging Ceremony from the Ojibwe tradition. For some people this
was a new way to ceremonially and spiritually open a religious series.
Mr. Ramadani then spoke on The Basic Beliefs of Islam. He particularly
highlighted Islamic beliefs in Allah as the only Creator and Sustainer of all;
in all Prophets; in all Books from Allah; in Angels; and in the Day of
Judgment. A handout, which the speaker had prepared, indicated verses (ayat)
from specific Quranic chapters (sura).
Dr. Herzfeld then responded. She pointed out a curious fact. Both the main
speakers happened to be from the field of computer technology. That comment
resulted in some laughter. She stated that she is currently teaching a course
at St. Johns on Islamic Spiritual Traditions and that her doctoral and other
explorations into the Islamic religion have led her to a deep respect and love
for Islam. It seemed important that she prefaced her erudite response to the
main presentation with a statement that she was not Muslim, and that she was
offering her comments as a Christian and a scholar.
The two main presenters having spoken, there followed at least a dozen
interventions from the floor. People uninhibitedly made pertinent comments
or asked questions from diverse religious and secular perspectives. Strikingly,
these responses and the main presenters ensuing comments were offered in a
spirit of frankness, respect, and, above all, in awareness of a safe environment.
The audience made comments from Christian, Jewish, Bahai, Native American, and
other perspectives.
The following comment later sent to me by e-mail would seem to summarize how
this dialogue session was generally received: The presentations were very
interesting and opportunity for discussion, safe.
The moderator Dr. McKanan invited the main presenters to give their concluding
reflections. A handout was then distributed. Dr. McKanan commended the audience
of about forty adults for their active participation. He then invited Ms.
Norhashimah Erpelding to chant Sura 6:151-153. A devout atmosphere was created
and all sat in perfect silence as the hijab-wearing daughter of an imam
in Malaysia, intoned ancient words from the Sacred Quran in traditional style
with total concentration. After a brief period of silent meditation on the
scriptural text, Dr. McKanan invited the audience to partake of refreshments
generously provided by the hosting church ULCE.
While people engaged in conversation, establishing connections, and making
and deepening friendships across religious, racial, and ethnic divides, there
was an unexpected announcement from the moderator. Imam Jarrod Hall of the
Nation of Islam, and co-founder of Brothers United, who had trained the
children in the Daycare room nearby, asked if he might have them do a little
presentation for the benefit of the adults. Once again the audience sat down.
Seven girls and boys stood in single file facing an eager audience. The
children recited by rote virtues and activities that were associated with
numbers from one to ten. They then accounted for related thematic associations
with the days date 3/18/03. Two of the girls also demonstrated their memory
skills of another religious lesson which they had learnt from Imam Hall during
daycare. The audience applauded amidst many a spontaneous expression of
appreciation for the performance.
The dialogue session ended on schedule at 8 p.m. Quite a few people lingered
on to continue the conversation until about 9 o'clock.
The next dialogue will be hosted by Pastor Stacey Steck and Ms. Flora
Calderon-Steck at First Presbyterian Church, 373-4th Ave South.
Date: Tuesday, 25 March.
Time: 6.30 - 8 p.m. (preceded by video at 6 o'clock)
Topic: Oneness of Allah (in Arabic, Tawheed and Shirk).
Ayat:
sura: Al-Ikhlaas: 112
sura: Al-Aaraf: 172,173
sura: Al-Aanbia: 25
sura: Aan-Nahal : 36
sura: Az-Zumar: 65, 66
sura: Al-Aanam: 88For English transliteration and translation, please visit:
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/
Sura Al-Anbya' (19-22) & Sura Al-Ikhlaas will be chanted by Ms. Erpelding:
"To Him belong all creatures in the heavens and on the earth: even those who
are in His very Presence are never too arrogant to worship Him, nor are they
ever weary. They celebrate His praises night and day, without ever tiring.
Have they taken gods from the earth who can raise the dead? If there were, in
the heavens or in the earth, other gods besides God, there would have been
confusion in both! But glory to God, the Lord of the Throne; high is He above
what they attribute to Him!"
"Say, He is God, the One! God, the eternally Besought of all! He neither begets
nor was begotten. And there is none comparable unto Him."
The presence and participation of followers of other religions in the Muslim
dialogues series will be evident once again on 3/25 with interfaith symbols
placed on a credence table in the center of the dialogue space. At the very
conclusion of the session, there will be a Hindu prayer sung in Sanskrit and
Hindi by Ms. Ruhi Rai of India, a senior at St. Cloud State University.
For a second and final time, the video "Muslims-Dialogues-Beliefs" will be
screened in the dialogue hall from 6 p.m.
The series is free and open to all. All facilities are physically accessible.
Report by:
Malcolm Nazareth
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